Relating to our post about the value of a website, is the issue of the complexity of the Web design process. Today, with technology and the speed of the Web world, many clients expect a Web designer to be able to whip up a good site design between the 10AM coffee break and lunch. We expect fast delivery and something to look at in a day or two. Sometimes, if the designer has an epiphany from a large Starbucks, that may happen, but not often. Here’s what goes into the “design” part of a website or micro-website or just Landing Pages.

It actually all starts with you, the client. Designers are passionate about what they do. They are creative people and often think “latitudinally” or “exponentially” versus the common “linear” thinking of most people. This enables them to come up with the designs that make us go “aahh”. Designers want you to be happy, because that is what motivates them more than a paycheque.

A good designer will start with the Creative Brief and a lot of questions. If you’re working with an agency, you may not initially meet the designer and sometimes never as it’s handled by the Account Executive. Other times, you’ll work directly with the designer. A good agency will involve the Creative Director and designer.

And though we’re in the age of technology, your design concept may actually start on a piece of paper, or even  a napkin. A designer may immediately have ideas, or may seek inspiration by viewing other websites or consulting magazines, books on design or taking a walk on a beach. The creative process varies. Eventually though, they will hit the screen and start working. Most designs are done in Photoshop or Adobe CS3 or similar design software. A few versions may be crafted and the designer will also be considering; font styles, text usage and lay-out, colours, navigation and information architecture, and the capabilities of different Web browsers. There is a lot to consider in creating not only a good design, but one that works in various browsers, including devices like the BlackBerry and iPod Touch or iPhone, and this is taking on increasing importance. They also will consider the type of industry, the feel of the site, the personality and culture of the company and what the business objectives of the site are. A business website is not a work of “art” for a good designer, they are working by applied rules of visual communications.

All this can take several days. Making tweaks can take a while as well. It is a time-consuming process they are working through, and even working with good software tools like CS3 means incorporating images (ensuring copyright to those images as well) and moving them around.

These are all the factors that come together with a good designer. Although they are creative, they work through proven processes and face stresses of creative block, PC crashes and software glitches like all of us non-design types. Understanding this process can lead to deeper working relationships with your designer, which can result in even better design work.